Wolverine #56 Marvel Comics £2.40 By Jason Aaron and Howard CHAYKIN!
Whoever said there are no bad characters just bad writers was bang-on. This comic is called Wolverine and against all the odds it features Wolverine. I have more interest in local politics than I do in Wolverine, but I thought this book was just grinchy.
Wanted: Social misfit to fire a big-ass gun at a pit-trapped Wolverine. All day. Must have own transport.
If I saw that advert I'd apply lickety-split. Luckily for me, some scum bucket called Wendell already got the job. Wendell's happy in his work (who wouldn't be..Pow!..Pow!..) but unhappy in his life. Wolverine's pretty unhappy all round. Not only does he keep getting shot to chunks but then he regenerates just in time for..yup!..Pow!..Pow! And they've taken Wolvies' pants. Yes, Ladies! It's blood spattered beefcake action the way you like it. Don't all rush now. So Wolverine has to get out of the pit. But..but..how? Oh, it's good. Real good.
Jason Aaron (Other Side, Scalped, Ripclaw) gives us a beautifully simple set-up with a great solution and along the way delivers a nasty little story that'll make you feel like you've been licking ashtrays. It ain't sunny stuff, no, Sir. Aaron is aware of how stupid all this super-hero malarkey is but by giving us believable characters gets us invested in the happenings. I don't actually know if I felt sorry for Wendell or not, because he's such a well done character, and I liked that. And Wolverine...ooh, he's sneaky. Gotta watch that Wolverine. He's so sly. When he's written well.
Howard CHAYKIN! can of course draw this stuff in his sleep. And judging by some of his recent output he has been doing exactly that. (Witness Barracuda's disappearing shins in Punisher Max #50; what happened there? Had Yorkie sneakily dug a pit in front of his sofa? Or was CHAYKIN!'s alimony payments overdue?) But here he's been hitting the No-Doze big time. His Wolverine is a scary neanderthal with a horrible intelligence in his nasty little eyes. And..oh, it's just really good CHAYKIN!. And that's D*mn good.
You can skip the last two pages as they are obviously an editorially mandated attempt to tie it all in to Loeb's spacedog haircare wars or Way's tedium-fest Origins. One or the other. I don't care. Is that Derek Wolverine? He's so edgy and transgressive I quail with fear!
Storywise this one issue was a million times more interesting than the horrible, dragged out mess that Loeb gave us. Artwise it was better than Chaykin's Blade stuff I saw, but relied far too much on repasting backgrounds (and objects) from other panels which is just plain lazy.
A slur on the name of CHAYKIN! He’s many things (talented, handsome and a mean ballroom dancer) but he’s not lazy. He had three comics out this past month. Two of them extra-sized. I reckon he’s overextending his talents but he’s getting the work done. Unlike some people who will remain nameless (<cough> Jim Lee, that’s lazy, people).
Is it lazy when Maleev does it? Gaydos? Lark? Everyd*mnbody? It’s no good, they’re all at it. No one is immune. It’s the age of Cut’n’Paste comics. The Sausage Machine has never been happier. The days of finely crafted hand wrought panels of uniqueness are over. Man, if Wally Wood had held off on blowing his mad brains out long enough to enter The Cut & Paste Age he’d have been c*ck-a-hoop.
Let’s not forget though that repetition can be a useful technique. Miller uses it well (and has for over twenty years), and CHAYKIN!’s been using it for at least as long. In this instance, I thought the repetition was a device used to convey how tediously unvarying Wendell’s life/Wolverine’s situation was. But I may(!) be being overgenerous.
One things for sure, Cut’n’Paste is here to stay. Better learn to love it.
In that respect, and at the risk of sluring Chaykin even more, Maleev must do it a lot better as it is less noticeable and fits in with his style (Maleev's Daredevil work being one of my all time favourites I must admit). Chaykin's "cut and paste" was badly done, just check out the table and the gun itself, they stick out a mile as being thrown onto the page. but as always, this is just my opinion.
I have no problem with panel repetition when it suits the story, but that's a different technique altogether.
Slur away, I was just comedically overstating as usual. Maleev Vs. Chaykin. Kirby vs. Ditko. Pet Shop Boys vs. Nick Cave. Peckinpah vs. Lynch. Apples vs. Oranges. All good, all different. Different shapes, same great taste. The taste of goodness.
I just don't think you like CHAYKIN's new gaudy-gauche stylee. Fair enough. It is a bit eye searing (and unpopular). But like I say, it's good CHAYKIN!, but it's only good if you like CHAYKIN! Man can't help having a style, and he can't make you like it. Oh well.
OKComicsman - I would like a copy of the Friday 13th book, please. Wait, I forgot my training again; Is it any good? Oh, too late! Yoinks!
Mr Infinitum - what was bad about the next issue? The story or the art? (I haven't received my Red Cross Comic Parcel yet). Surely not the art? Say it ain't so, Joe!
Oooh that warms my chitlings right up. A young’un who enjoyed a CHAYKIN! comic. C’mere and lemme chuch your peach fuzz cheeks. Punisher Max #50 did indeed rock like a thing with very heavy recoil indeed. (Missing shins apart). I loved that full page splash of The Barracuda in his suit. Stylin’! And the clay-Goombah shoot in the hotel was hilarious. Sadly (for me, anyway) The C-Man’s not doing the rest of the Pun Max arc, it’s Goran Parlov(sp?), who I think is real dreamy despite being very different to the C-ster. But if my malfunctioning memory serves Mr. A-face is not keen on The Parlov. Console yourself Mr. A-Face by purchasing this fine issue of Wolverine. Is good.
Veering off topic now, but, Mambo chutney! am I stoked about seeing that new Punny Max story unfold? (Yes.) Usually you’d know the You Know What would be safe. But not here. I’m actually tense just thinking about it. Oh noes! Don’t hurtses it!
The issue of Wolverine following the Jason Aaaron issue had only one change to the 'creative' team. Same inker, artist, editor... same everyting except the writer. It's probably the biggest dip in quality from one issue to the next I've ever seen. A punchy, inventive, fresh, compelling story followed by unreadable, senseless nonsense. I've been reading and enjoying Wolverine for ages, but no more.
I love Chaykin's art, but he's not an all action superhero artist - which is what the latest issue is. That's why his work was so great on the last issue - it was more about the hum drum life of the guy with the gun, which is a phrase to sum up Chaykin's work if ever there was one!
Ok you get a cheek chuch too Mr Infinitum, but no one else. You're right about CHAYKIN! and superdoopers being a mismatch. I totally missed that very valid point. "Hum drum life of the gun" - I like that, it's street like something my housie Fifty Pence might rap.(Yeah, I'm hep, I'm with-it).
You guys are really building this next issue up. I'm really in the mood for a hilarious cr*pfest. Fly like the wind Wolvie, to my arms!
